Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-23
4 HORRIBLE DEN.
One of ShanghaPs Attractions to a China
man

o
man.
writer II recent number OF the
North China Herald describes the Nam
gin-tsiD, the greatest opium den in China.
1t is known throughout the length and
bredth OF the whole empire 10 the Chinese,
and it helps to make Shanghai regarded
as city sfording the same opportuni-
ties for pleasure and dissipation that
Paris does TO the typical Frenchman. 1t
is situated in the French concession il
Shanghai, within a stones throw
of the wall of the native
city, within which no opium shops
are supposed to exist. The character of
the place could not be guessed from its
external appearance, although the air Of
the people passing In and cut might sug-
gest it. The thrODg5 visiting it represent
all stations of lite, from the CoOlie 10 the
wealthy merchant or the small mandarin.
II is with difficulty that one gets inside
through the crowds of people hanging
round the door. Those Whoihaye not the
requisite number Of copper cash to pro-
cure the 5aneiul pipe watch with horrible
usefulness each OF the more atlluent pass
in with 9 nervous, hurried step,
or totter out wearing that pecu-
liar daZed expression which
comes after the smokers craving has
oeen satisfied and his transient pleasure
nas passed away. One requires strong
! stomach to stand the sickeninS fumes
with which the sir inside Is thickened
T1e cloud Of smoke, the dim light from
the numerous COlored lamps, the number
| CT reclining forms with distorted faces
! bent ever the smGu flames Ct which the
| pipes are lighted, causes the novice
| siCkenlpg sensation. But as soon as the
! eye becomes accustomed TO the scene, It
! is noticed that the place IS got up on
IN expensive scale. IN TIE center
81 the lower room hsrgs one OF
| the finest of Chinese lamps, the ceiling
| is Of richly carved wood, while the
/ painted walls are thiCkly inlaid with pc
/ CUliariy marked marble, which gives the
! idea Of unfinished landscape sketches.
| Numerous doors on eli sides lead to the
smokers apartments. IL the cutter por-
/ ton Of the building stands counter
/ covered with little boxes Of the drug
reedY for smoking, which dozen assist
/ Gnts are kept busy handing out TO the
servants who wait upon the heOitues CT
tie place. The average daily receipts are
/ ssid to be about $1,000. The smoking
I -
In the cheapest are coolies, VINO pay
ABOUT peace for their smoke. In the
dearest the smoke costs about pence
The drug supplied in each class
is much the same both in quality
and quantity; It is true the difference in
the pipes regulates the price. The best
kinds are made of ivory, the stem being
often inlaid with stones and rendered
ruOsr cDGtiV nv rpaGOyl ~ plabDrstn
ing; the cheapesc kinds are made simply
of hard wood. The rooms also are fur
nsled according to class. In the most
expensive the lounge upon which the
smoker reCliDes is OF tue velvet with pill
lows OF the same materials; the frames
Of each couch are lnlaid with mother Of
pearl and jade, and the whole air OF these
rooms is one of sensuous luxury. There
is also number of private rooms. In the
poorer section Will be seen msnv Wearers
Of the tattered yellow and gray
robes of Buddhist and Tayist priests.
Women form q fair proportion of the
smokers. The common belief is that the
opium sleep is attended by d mild, pleas
uraole deIirium, with brief gIances Of
eIysium, but this is the exception, not the
rule. People smoke to satisfy the craving
begotten of previous indulgence. There
is accommodation for $50 smokers at a
time, and there is seldom 8 vacancy very
long. The stream Of smokers goes en-
from early morning till midnight, when
the place closes; the clouds of smoke 90
up necessarily al day long. Europeans
do not often visit the Place, out the sea-
men Of American men-of-wsr visiting
Shanghai sometimes seek solace in the
drug.